Science Popularization efforts

by Professor J.V. Narlikar

Professor J.V. Narlikar is a Theoretical Astrophysicist by
profession, but has been contributing towards the popularization
of science in many different ways over a long period. His first
popular article was written in the early 60s in the magazine
"Discovery" in the U.K. In this artcle he described the
phenomena of gravitational collapse and the new discovery of
quasars. This article was greatly appreciated by readers and
other U.K. Magazines; especially the "New Scientist" also carried
out articles by him on topics relating to cosmology. While in
the U.K. Professor Narlikar also developed into a public speaker
and gave popular talks to undergraduate societies in the U.K.

In 1972 he returned to India to take up a position in the Tata
Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR). While at TIFR, he
continued to write for popular science magazines as well as
appearing in the radio and T.V. shows relating to science. The
list of publications of his popular articles presently runs to
over 400 and covers his contribution in English, Marathi (his
mother tongue) and Hindi (the National Language of India). See
the list attached. His T.V. Shows also had these three languages
and were considerably appreciated by the audience.

During 1980-81 Narlikar was associated with the screening of a
serial in Marathi on the Bombay T.V. called "Akashashi jadale
nate". (On developing relationship to the sky). This series
covered different aspects of astronomy with the help of
discussions and slides. It caught the public imagination and
was very popular.

In the mid 80s Narlikar compared Carl Sagan's famous serial "The
Cosmos" with a Hindi introduction in the beginning. This was
greatly liked by the audience since the summary of the episode in
Hindi conveyed to the audience the broad scope of what was to be
presented. Taking a cue from the success of this serial,
Narlikar proposed to the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi that a
serial in astronomy in Hindi should be screened on the Indian
television. This suggestion was readily taken up and Narlikar
was asked to devise the serial to be made by the Films Division
of India. This serial in 17 parts was completed and shown in
India on several occasions during 1994-95. In a simple language
with the help of stories and anecdotes this serial called
"Brahmand" (The Universe) describes the exciting discoveries in
astronomy. Because of participation by school children, this
serial has reached a large section of the younger population.

Professor Narlikar's efforts in science popularization had also
extended to book writing and the attached book list includes
popular science books in Hindi, Marathi and English as well as
his technical writings. These books have been translated in
other Indian languages also. His Marathi book `Akashashi Jadale Nate'
on astronomy for the lay reader became an instant success. His popular
books in English include `The Lighter Side of Gravity' and the `Seven
Wonders of the Cosmos'. In addition, Narlikar has
also written science fiction stories and novels in these three
languages and they have generated considerable response from the
Indian readership. In his science fiction writing, Narlikar has
tried to depict the Indian environment and highlighted the
ongoing interaction between society and science, besides
projecting it into the future. His science fiction story
"Dhoomaketu" (the Comet) has been made into a 2-hour film by the
Children's Film Society of India.

Professor Narlikar has been in great demand as public speaker in
different parts of India and has been regularly lecturing to the
lay audience not only in Maharashtra (the State where he lives),
but also in other parts of the country. The audiences at his
lecture are very large and in some cases they have reached and
crossed four figures. He managed to convey the excitement of
astronomy and the importance of the scientific outlook in his
talks. The lack of scientific outlook in his opinion has been a
hurdle in the progress of the country towards a better and more
enlightened way of living. He has been emphasising this in his
various talks almost with a missionary zeal and has found several
ways and means of popularizing the scientific outlook and
rational behaviour.

As a novel experiment towards science dissemination, Narlikar has
started the practice of asking the autograph hunting
schoolchildren to send him postcard with some scientific question
to which he would reply with his signature. This has generated
a large number of postal questions and answers in science. A
subset of this was published recently by the Marathi Vidnyan
Parishad, a voluntary science dissemination organisation, as a
booklet called "Postcardatun vidnyan" (Science through postcard).

Since 1997, Narlikar has been appearing in the TV cultural magazine
programme `Surabhi' where he answers questions from viewers requiring
scientific information for answers.

For his contributions for science popularization, Professor
Narlikar was awarded the Indira Gandhi Prize by the Indian
National Science Academy in 1990, and the Kalinga Prize by UNESCO in
1996.